Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2012

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Health and Nutritional Sciences

First Advisor

Jessica Meendering

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in children that reside within city limits (WCL) and those that live outside city limits (OCL) in a rural environment. Methods: Physical activity and ST was assessed for seven days via accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+) in 154 fifth and sixth grade students from five rural (population 􀂟6,576) communities. Subject addresses were geocoded (Web USC G I S and Google Earth) to determine WCL or OCL classification. Sixty-seven students (39 WCL; 28 OCL) met PA compliance standards. Daily minutes of ST, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (V PA) and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) were calculated for OCL and WCL subjects using age appropriate cut points. Data was analyzed during waking hours for the full week, weekend, and weekdays. The weekday data is broken down into the following time periods: before school, during school, and after school. All data is presented as mean ± sd. WCL and OCL data was compared via t-test with statistical significance set at p 􀂟0.05. Results: There was no difference in height, weight, BMI, household education or household income between WCL and OCL groups. There was no difference in the average minutes of daily ST, LPA, MPA, VPA or MVPA between WCL and OCL during the full week, weekend, or weekday (p > 0.05). There was also no difference in the average minutes of ST, LPA, MPA, VPA or MVPA between WCL and OCL before school, during school and after school during the weekdays (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest no difference in PA levels or ST in 5th and 6th grade children residing WCL vs. OCL in the rural environments.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

City children -- South Dakota
Rural children -- South Dakota
Exercise for children
Physical fitness for children

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright